Ampul



June 25, 1929.

A. E. SMITH 1,718,593

AMPUL Filed Feb. 1 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ELL g. E.

I N VEN TOR. ARTHUR E. SMITH A TTORNE Y.

A. E. SMITH Jung 25, 1929.

AMPUL File d Feb. 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RTHUR E. SMITH ATTORNEY.

Patented June 25, 1929..

UNITED STATES ARTHUR E. SMITH, 0]! LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AMPUL.

Application filed February 15, 1927. Serial No. 168,296.

This invention relates to a drug handling means.

The general object of this mvention isto provide a novel means and method for mu;- ing and handling a drug.

A specific object of the invent on 18 to rovide a method and means for mixing a rug with a vehicle wherein'the drug and the vehicle are contained in independent containers and wherein the containers are placed in communication and the solid made without contact with the atmosphere.

Another object of the invention is to provide separate -drug and vehicle containers or ampules wherein the drug and vehicle are each hermetically sealed and wherein means is provided for transferring the vehicle from its container to the drug container.

A further object of the invention is to provide drug preparing means comprising containers having the ingredients therein and having means thereon enabling the contalners to be connected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double ended ampul of the class described which is made of glass and wherein the article contained therein is hermetically sealed at one end by means of a frangible diaphragm portion and wherein the diaphragm portion is sealed from the atmosphere and wherein the other end of the container has means thereon for engaging a delivery tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for connecting two containers.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hermetically tight means for coacting with two containers to enable the contamers to be connected and placed in communication.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of a drug containing ampul.

Fig. 2 is a view of a vehicle containing ampul.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing one end of an ampul and the frangible hermetic seal and the air tight plug.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing an ampul end and the hermetic seal formed of the same material as the body of the ampul.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the method of and means for transferring the contents of one am ul to another.

1g. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary central longitudinal section of the connecting device.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of the connecting member.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation partly in section showing the mixed solution in the ampul together with an apparatus for supporting the ampul and injecting the solution.

Fig. 9 is a top view of the ampul support and an ampul mounted therein.

Fig. 10 is a modified form of vehicle containing ampul.

Fig. 11 shows a modified form of ampul and means of transfer.

Fig. 12 is a section through the hose and one of the clamps shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a side view of a clamp showing the handle in section.

Fig. 14 shows another apparatus for applyingit a vehicle to the drug containing ampul, an

Fig. 15 is a view of a bottle, partly in section, which is adapted to have its contents transferred to a drug containing ampul.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have indicated my improved drug containing ampul at 10 and my improved vehicle containing ampul at 11.

In the following description, although I refer to the containers as ampules, I wish it to be distinctly understood that my invention applies to containers and receptacles in general and is not limited to the particular construction or for the particular purposes which I will hereinafter describe. I

The drug containing ampul 10 as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a hollow tubular body 12 of glass having a reduce-d tip 13 at one end thereof and a reduced neck 14: at the other end thereof. The tip 13 includes a bulbous portion 15 wherein a portion of sterile gauze 16 is contained and a closed end portion 17. The bulbous portion 15 and the closed end 17 are preferably separated by a reduced portion 18. The neck 14 includes a bulbous portion 19 and a throat 20 being separated from the bulbous portion 19 by a reduced annular groove 21.

Within the throat 20 a thin diaphragm 22 of metal or other material is provided which is preferably fused to the material of the throat 20. Also within the throat 20 a plug 23 is provided which tightly engages the ner walls of the throat and forms a hermetic seal. The bed 12 of the ampul 10 contains a drug 24 an the interior of the body 12 may be exhausted to form a partial vacuum before the end 17 of neck 14 1s closed.

The drug contained in the body 12 of the ampul 10 may be of any character, for 1nstance, salvarsan, neo-sa varsan, sulphorspenamine, sodium iodine, etc.

The vehicle containing ampul 11 is similar to the drug containing ampul 10 in that it comprises a glass body 25 having a reduced neck 26 formed at one end thereof, but the other end is not provided with a reduced tip such as the tip 13 of ampul 10, it being pre erably finished off smooth although both ampules may be alike. The neck 26 of ampul 11 includes a bulbous portion 27 and a throat 28 se arated from the bulbous portion 27 by a re uced annular groove 29. The throat 28 is also hermetically sealed by a metallic partition 30 fused to the inner surface of the throat and is hermetically sealed by a plug 31. A vehicle 25' which may be distilled water is contained in thei body 25 of the vehicle containing ampu 11.

The plugs 23 and 31 are preferably made of rubber and are preferably, before insertion into the throats, of a greater diameter than the interior diameter of the throats. In Fig. 3 I have indicated the plug 23 in full lines in the ampul and in dotted lines show its normal size before insertion into the throat 20 of ampul 10.

As shown in Fig. 4 the frangible hermetic partition across the interior of the throat may be formed of the same material as the throat. In this particular instance the ampul 33 is shown as formed of glass and has a neck 34 formed at one end thereof. The neck 34 includes a bulbous portion 35 and a threat 36 separated from the bulbous portion 35 by an annular groove 37. A glass partition 38.across the interior of the throat 36 forms the hermetic seal while a rubber stopper or plug 39 disposed within the throat forms an alr tlght seal.

I have indicated the connecting device which I now prefer to use in conjunction with the foregoing ampules at 40 in Figs. 5, 6 anad 7. The connector 40 comprises a bulbous body portion 41 preferably made of rubber and having projecting circular bosses 42 formed thereon. Circular flanges 43 integral with the body 41 are formed around and in spaced concentric relation to the bosses 42.

The bosses 42 are slightly tapered outwardly from the body 41 towards their ends, while the interior surfaces of the flanges 43 have a reverse taper to form a slightly V-shaped annular recess 44 between the bosses and the flanges.

1,71s,see

41 and the bosses 42 of the connector 40. The tube 40 has an enlar ed knurled portion 47 between its ends. T e beveled ends 46 are shown as projecting beyond the ends of the bosses 42.

In practice, when an operator desires to UK a solution for use, the connector 40 is used to transfer the vehicle from its container or ampul to the drug containin ampul as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The evice 40 is usually first applied to the vehicle ampul 11 so that the boss 42 fits tightly within the throat 28 and the flange 43 fits tightl over the outer surface of the throat. As t e device 40 is placed in osition on the throat 28 of ampul 11, the tu e 45 first penetrates the seal or plug 31 and then it fractures and enetrates the diaphragm 30. The taper o the recess 44 of the device 40 is such that it forms an hermetic seal between the device 40 and the throat of the ampul 11 prior to the fineturing of the hermetic seal 30.

After the metallic partition 30 of the vehicle containing ampul 11 is fractured the throat 20 of the drug containing ampul 10 is placed in the other recess 44 of the connector 40 and the tube 45 is moved to first penetrate the lug 23 and then fracture and penetrate the ermetic seal 22.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the tube 45 in a position prior to fracturing the metallic partition 22, in which position the boss 42 and the flange 43 have formed an hermetic seal between the connector and the throat 20 of ampul 10. As the interior of the drug containing ampul 10 has been exhausted so that a partial vacuum exists therein, the vehicle or distilled water contained in ampul 11 will, after the metallic partition 22 has been fractured, be drawn through the hollow tube 45 into the body 12 of ampul 10. Thus a solution is formed which is sterile and which is immediately ready for in'ecting purposes.

Various methods an apparatus for in'ection may be employed with my inventiombut I prefer the gravity method. When the solution is to be injected by means of a hypodermic syringe the needle of the syringe may be caused to penetrate the rubber plug 23 and extend throu h the fracture in the metallic partition 22 into the body of ampul 10 and then upon an actuation of the syringe the whole or a part of the mixed solution in ampul 10 may be withdrawn into the syringe.

When the gravity method is used (see Fig 8) the closed end 17 of ampul 10 is fractured and broken off at the restricted portion 18 and then the throat 20 of neck 14 is fractured and broken off at the annular groove 21 after which a rubber cap 50 is placed over the bulbous ortion 19. The ampul 10 is then placed in a older with the bulbous portion 15 directed downward. The holder preferably consists of a metal strip 52 having a bottom rest 53 formed thereon and positioning arms 54 secured intermediate the length of strip 52, and a hook member 55 secured to the upper end of strip 52 by which the holder 51 may be suspended from an ob ect 56.

After placing the ampul 10 in the holder 51 a flexible tube 57 is then arranged over the bulbous portion 15. This flexible tube of rubber is connected in any desired manner with a needle 58 for injection. In the accompanying drawings I have shown the connection as including a transparent glass tube 59 containing a quantity of sterile gauze, a rubber tube 60, a second transparent glass tube 61, and another rubber tube 62, although it will be understood that other means of connection may be employed.

When the operator is ready to 1I1]BCt the solution contained in ampul 10 the rubber cap 50 is removed and then the solution will flow through the gauze 16 in the bulbous p01- tion 15 and through the flexible tube 57 to the needle 58. Any fragments of glass or other solid matter Will-be filtered out of the solution as it passes through the sterile gauze 16 in the bulbous portion 15 and the gauze 1n thetransparent glass tube 59.

A modified form of vehicle containing ampul is shown in Fig. 10 and indicated generally at 64. This ampul is similar to the vehicle containing am'pul 11 previously described except that it does not contain the metallic partition but is hermetically sealed by a tip,

formed of the same material as the ampul. The ampul 64 comprises a hollow body 65 finished plain at one end and having a re-- duced neck 66 provided at its other end. The neck 66 includes a bulbous portion 67, a throat 68, and a closed tip 69 separated from the throat by a restricted annular groove 70. A rubber stopper or plug 71 similar to the plug 31 of ampul 11 is provided in the throat 68. In using this ampul 64 the closed tip 69 is broken off at the annular groove 70 and the tube of a transfer device is caused to penetrate the rubber plug 71 in the same manner as described in connection with ampul 11.

In Fig. 11 I have shown another means for separately holding a drug and its vehicle and for mixing the two. The drug and vehicle holding means is shown as consisting of two glass ampules 72 and 74. The drug containing ampul 7 2 consists of a hollow body 73 having a reduced tip 75 formed at one end thereof and a reduced neck 76 formed at the opposite end thereof. The tip 75 includes a bulbous portion 77, and a closed end portion 78 separated from the bulbous portion 77 by a restricted annular groove 79. The neck 76 includes a bulbous portion 80 and a closed tip 81 separated from the bulbous portion by a restricted annular groove 82.

The bulbous portion 80 is adapted to contain a quantity of sterile gauze or other suitable filtering material. A predetermined quantity of a suitable drug is placed in the body 73 of the ampul 72 before the end 78 is closed and the ampul may also be exhausted and a partial vacuum formed therein before the end 78 is closed.

The vehicle containing ampul 74 consists of a body 83 finished plain at oneend and having a reduced neck 84 provided at the other end thereof. The neck 84 includes a bulbous portion 85 and a closed tip 86 separated from the bulbous portion by a restricted annular groove 87. A vehicle such as distilled water is placed in the body 83 of ampul 74 before the tip 86 is closed.

When the operator desires to mix a solution one end of a rubber tube 88 is placed over the bulbous portion 80 of the neck 76 on ampul 7 2 and the other end is placed over the bulbous portion 85 of the neck 84 on ampul 74. i I

The rubber tube 88 is adapted to be retained in air tight engagement with the ampules 72 and 74 by means of clamps 89 placed over each end of the tube between the bulbous portions of the ampules 72 and 74, and their body portions.

To cause the vehicle to mix with the.drug the rubber tube 88 is grasped so that by the proper movement of the fingers of the operator the tips 86 and 76 will be fractured and parted from the bulbous portions 80 and 85 at the annular grooves 82 and 87 After the tips 76 and 86 have been broken off the vehicle will, on account of the exhausted condition of ampul 72, be drawn into the body 73 of the drug containing ampul 72. The gauze in the bulbous portion 80 of ampul 72 prevents any fragments of glass from entering the body 73 of the drug containing ampul.

To remove the mixed solution in ampul 72 for either syringe or gravity injection, the rubber tube 88 is first removed and then the closed end 78 is fractured and broken off at the annular groove 79. The same method of gravity injection may then be employed as shown in Fig. 8 and described in connection therewith.

The clamps 89 used in connection with the method shown in Fig. 11, are shown in detail in Figs. 12 and 13 as comprising a bent metal portion 90 adapted to clamp around the rubber tube 88 and a portion of an ampul, and a rubber handle 91, but it will be understood that any suitable form of clamp may be employed.

In Fig. 14 I have shown another method of mixing the vehicle with a drug contained in an ampul 92. The ampul 92 shown in this figure is similar to ampul 10 shown in Fig. 1, and for the detailed construction of the same the first part of this specification may be referred to.

In this method the vehicle, such as distilled water, is contained in a bottle 93 which may be of any type having a neck 94 thereon. A rubber tube 95 is placed over the neck 94 of the bottle and clamped thereto to form a fluid tight connection by a clamp 96. The

clamp 96 ma be of the same construction as the clam s shown in Figs. 12 and 1 3, only larger. e rubber. tube 95 has an in ector 97 provided on its free end which is rovided with a hollow tube or needle 98. he construction of this injector 97 ma be the same as the connector 40 shown in igs. 6 and 7, to form an hermetic seal between the connector and the ampul before the needle penetrates the seal and fractures the hermetic seal or metallic partition of the ampul.

When the needle 98 fractures the metallic partition of the ampul 92 the vehicle will be drawn into the ampul b the partial vacuum therein. A clamp 99 0 any suitable type is provided on the tube 95 adjacent the injector 97 for controlling the amount of water desired in the ampul 92.

In Fig. 15 I have shown a bottle 100 which may be of any desired capacity and which is provided with means for removing its liquid contents therefrom and transferring it to an ampul of the type shown in F 1g. 1. This bottle 100 has a hollow cylindrical neck 101 provided adjacent its lower end which communicates withthe interior of the bottle by means of a reduced passage 102. In the hollow of neck 101 and adjacent the assage 102 a rubber plug 103 is provided. T e plug 103 is normally of a greater diameter than the inside diameter of the neck 101 and inserted in the neck and retained therein in a compressed state. The plug 103 may be maintained sterile by a quantity of sterile cotton or gauze 104 inserted in the neck 101 and a rubber cap 105 may be provided to fit over the neck.

The contents of the bottle 100 such as distilled water may also be protected by a. quantity of sterile gauze or cot-ton 106 inserted in the neck of the bottle.

When an operator desires to transfer a quantity of distilled water contained in the bottle to an ampul the cap 105 and the gauze or cotton 104 are removed from the neck 101 and a connector similar to the connector 40 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is positioned on the neck so that the hollow tube of the connector will penetrate the rubber plug 103 and at the same time form an hermetic seal between it and'the neck 101. After the connector has been positioned on the neck 101 the other end of the transfer device is applied to a drug containing ampul and the distilled water is drawn into said drug containing ampul as previously set forth.

By employing separate containers for the drug and vehicle and by providing these containers of different sizes and with different amounts of ingredients therein I am enabled to quickly prepare solutions of various strength.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel method and apparatus for storing drugs and their vehicles in separate containers and for mixing the'drugs and their vehicles wherein the ingredients remain sterile and wherein simplicitv of operation and efliciency are obtaine What I claim is:

1. In combination, an ampul having a drug therein, an independent ampul having a vehicle for said drug therein, both of said ampules being hermetically sealed with res ect to each other and to the outside atmosp ere, means independent of said ampules connecting the same and including a passageway for the vehicle whereby the contents of the vehicle ampul may be conveyed to the drug ampul when the seals between the ampules and the means are broken, the seal with respect to the outside atmosphere remaining intact.

2. The combination 'of two ampules, one ampul containing a drug and the other a vehicle for said drug, the contents of both of said ampules belng hermetically sealed therein, one of said ampules having a frangible wall, and a connector for conveying said vehicle from said vehicle ampul to said drug containing am ul, said connector having means thereon or engaging each ampul and havin additional means for piercing said frangible wall after the ampules are connected.

3. An ampul comprising a container having a neck at one end, said neck including a bulbous portion, said neck having a seal therein exterior of said bulbous portion.

4. An ampul having a neck at each end, each of said necks including a bulbous portion and one of said necks having a seal therein exterior of said bulbous portion, said seal being readily frangible.

5. The combination of a container having a drug therein and a container having a vehicle for said drug and a connector connecting said containers, said connector engaging said containers to form an hermetic seal, one of said containers having a frangible seal thereon adapted to be broken to enable the drug and vehicle to mix.

6. The combination of two separate containers, each having a neck thereon and one of said necks having a seal and a connector, said connector engaging said necks in fluid tight engagement, said connector havin means thereon adapted to penetrate said sea while in engagement with both of said containers.

7. The combination of a pair of separate ampules, one of said ampules having a drug therein and the other am 111 having a vehicle for said drug therein, t e contents of said drug containing ampul being sealed therein and the ampul exhausted and a connector for conveying said vehicle from said vehicle ampul to said drug ampul, said connector being adapted to engage said vehicle ampul in air tight engagement, said connector having means thereon adapted to penetrate said seal of said drug ampul and to engage said drug ampul in air tight engagement prior to the penetrating of said seal of said drug ampul and While it is in engagement with said vehicle ampul.

8. The combination of two ampules each having a neck sealed by a penetrable rubber stopper and by a frangible metallic partition, said rubber stopper being contained in said ampules in a compressed state and said metallie partitions being fused to said ampules,

one of said ampules being exhausted, a transfer means for placing said ampules in communication, said transfer means including a resilient rubber portion adapted to engage said necks and a transfer tube, said transfer tube being adapted to penetrate said rubber stopper, and also being adapted to fracture said metallic partition, said rubber portion of said transfer device being adapted to form a substantially air tight joint with said necks prior to the fracturing of said hermetic seals of said ampules by said tube.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my ARTHUR E. SMITH.

' signature. 

